Machine for heading cartridge-shells



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. B. PLACE. MACHINE FOR HEADING UARTRIDGE SHELLS.

No. 605,338. Patented June 7,1898.

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3%. 7% W fizornqyi 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Patented June '7, 1898.

W. B. PLACE.

MACHINE FOR HEADING CARTRIDGE SHELLS.

(No Model.)

s Sheets- Sheet 3.

(N0 Model.)

W. B. PLACE. MACHINE FOR HEADING CARTRIDGE SHELLS. No. 605,338.

Patented June 7, 1898.

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m: rioams PETERS cu, Pam-ovum, WhSHINGTON, my C.

@NETED STATES PATENT. Fries.

MACHINE FOR HEADING CARTRIDGE-SHELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,338, dated June 7,1898.

Application filed November 20, 1891. Serial No. 412,571. (No model-J Tat whom it may concern.-

llc it known that I, VILLIAM B. PLACE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the town of Kin gs Mills, in the county of WVarren, inthe State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin'Machines for Heading Cartridge-Shells, which will be set forth in theaccompanying description and drawings.

This invention relates to machines for making cartridge-shells, and itis particularly designed for use in heading shells.

The object of the invention is to provide a machine which is simple andefficient for heading cartridge-shells.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination,location, and arrangement, all as will be more fully hereinafter setforth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally specificallypointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views andreference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a view in side elevationof a machine constructed in accord ance with the principles of myinvention. Fig. 2 is a broken detached detail View showin g theconstruction for operating the crimper by which the upper end of thecartridge-shell is crimped or contracted. Fig. 3 is aview in frontelevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detacheddetail broken view, in front elevation, of the lower end of thedelivery-chute, showing the transferringfingers, the shaft upon whichsaid fingers are mounted, and the weighted arm. Fig. 5 is a detacheddetail view, in transverse horizontal section, on the line a a, Figs. 4and 6. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the clamping-fingersspread apart. Fig. 6 is a detached detail broken view, in verticalcentral section, of the construction shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a frontelevation of the shell-delivery device. Fig. 8 is a side elevation ofthe construction shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detached detail view, invertical central section, of the shell-crimping device. Fig. 10 is adetached detail view, in side elevation, of the crimping-die. Fig. 11 isa bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 12 is a detached ,detail view, intop plan, of the shell lifting antlsupview, in side elevation, of thesame. Fig.14 is a detached detail view, in top plan, of the heading die.Fig. 15 is a view in side elevation of thesame. Fig. 16 is a detacheddetail view,'in front elevation, of the feedingchamber with theagitating device arranged therein. Fig.- 17 is a view in side elevationof the construction shown in Fig. 16. Fig. 18 is a detached detail view,in front elevation, of the receiving-hopper. Fig. 19 is a view in sideelevation of the construction shown in Fig. 18. Fig. 20 is a brokendetached detail view, in top plan, of the cam-flange for actuatingtheshell lifting and supporting pin. Fig. 21 is a similar view, in sideelevation, of the same. Fig. 22 is a detached detail view in plan of theshell-holding dial. Fig. 23' is a vertical central transverse sectionalview of the same. Fig. 21 is a broken detached detail view inperspective, showing arrange Reference sign A designates a suitableframework, constructed of any suitable shape and material and arrangedto support the several parts of the mechanism hereinafter to bedescribed. Suitably mounted in the frame A is a shaft 13, adapted to berotated from any suitable source. A crank-wheel O is mounted upon oneend of shaft 13 outside of the frame, and is provided with a pin a,arranged to be received in an elongated slot formed in the end of alever D, which will hereinafter be more particularly described. Mountedon the shaft B and arranged to surround the c'rank-wheel O or otherwisesnitably placed is an eccentric E, the strap of which has an arm whichis connected to the upper end of a lever F, said lever being pivotallymounted intermediateit-s ends on frame A and having a slot a slightlyelongated at the lower end of said lever, in which slot I ticularlyFigs. 1, 3, and 24,) which meshes with a pinion J, mounted upon a shortshaft K. Suitably journaled and mounted on shaft porting pin. Fig. 13 isa detached detail .K are" the clamping-fingers L, the operation of whichwillhereinafter be more fully explained and described. From thisconstruction it will be seen that when shaft 13 is rotated the lever Fis vibrated about its pivot, thereby effecting a rocking of crank-arm G,and hence an oscillation of shaft H and gear I, such oscillation beingimparted to shaft K through the engagement of gears J and I, therebyswinging or rocking the arms L, as will presently be more fullyexplained.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the lever D is pivotally mounted uponthe frame intermediate its ends, and by reason of the play of pin a, ofcrank-wheel C in the elongated slot 0' in the upper end of said lever Dan oscillation of said lever about its pivot is effected when the shaftB is rotated. At its lower end the lever D is connected through a link(1 to a slide-block M, mounted to slide in suitable guides formed on orbolted to the framework of the machine. This slide M carries a pawl e,arranged to engage the ratchet-teeth I) (see Figs. 3, 22, and 23) on thedial-plate N. By this construction it will be seen that when shaft 13 isrotated a stepby-step rotation of the dial-plate is effected through theoscillating lever D and reciprocating block M, as will be readilyunderstood.

Suitably mounted upon shaft B is an cecentric 0, (see Figs. 2 and 3,)the strap of which is connected to an arm a, mounted upon a short shaftf, journaled in suitable bearings in the frame A, and upon which shaftis carried a finger or arm d, arranged when said crank-arm c is actuatedin one direction to engage a vertically-reciprocating rod P, which ismounted to slide in suitable guides formed or mounted on the main frame.A spring 6 is arranged to normally project the rod P upwardly for theupper end thereof -to engage the crank-arm d, said spring beinginterposed between the frame A and a projection g, carried by said rod.From this construction it will be seen that when shaft B is rotated anoscillation is imparted to crank-arm c, which oscillation is transmittedthrough the short shaft f, upon which said arm is mounted, to thecam-finger or crankarm (l,which, through its engagement of the upper endof rod P, effects a downward movement of rod P and against the action ofspring 6. It will also be seen that when a further rotation of shaft 13causes the eccentric O to rock the arm 0 in the other direction the rodP, under the influence of spring 6, is returned or elevated to itsoriginal or normal position.

The sleeve or collar f, secured to or formed with an arm h, is mountedupon to reciprocate with rod 1, and said collar f carries the mechanismfor reducing and crimping the end of the shell. The construction of thismechanism is shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 3, 9, 10, and 11 andconsists therein of a sleeve Q, suitably mounted in the arm 7L ofcollarf and through which passes freely the bolt g, having limiting andadjusting nuts h upon lower end slotted and slightly flared, as clearlyshown in Figs. 9, 10, and 11. The head 'i is arranged to normally restupon the upper end of the reducing and crimping die R. From thisconstruction it will be seen that when the rod P is projecteddownwardly, carrying with it the collar f, the crimping-die R inclosesthe upper end of the shell and such depression effects a slightreduction in size and a slight crimping of the upper end of the shell,thereby adapting the shell to receive, in the subsequent operation ofthe machine, the head, as will presently more fully appear, the spring jpermitting a slight yielding when occasion requires of the crimping-die.The arm h',carried by collarfand which in turn supports thecrimping-die, as above described, also carries a plunger or gage 7t, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3, for gaging the depth of the wad in theshell-case before such gage reaches the point where the crimping-dieacts thereon, the arrangement being such that the shell-carrying dial Nis actuated by each rotation of shaft B to present a headless-shell casewith the depth of the wad properly gaged therein to the action of thecrimping-die at the same time that it presents the next succeedingheadless-shell case to the action of the gage, the headless-shell caseswhen placed in position on the pins in the carrying or supporting dial Ncontaining the wads, which have been previously inserted therein, andthe purpose of the gage is to provide means by which the -wads may beforced down from the end of the case to be operated upon by thecrimping-die a sufficient distance to avoid interference with thecrimping or reducing operation, as it frequently happens that the wadswhen placed in the shell-cases are not left at a uniform point therein,and in the present instance this gaging of the depth of the wads in theshellcase is effected by the gage or plunger, as above described, whichoperates in advance of the crimper.

In the operation of the machine after the wads are gaged as to theirdepth from the upper ends of the shellcases said shell-cases are nextpresented to the. action of the crimpingdies and are then next presentedin position to receive thereon the metal cups forming and constitutingthe heads. These metal cups or heads are first placed in a suitablehopper S, (shown in Figs. 1 and 3 and in detail in Figs. 18 and 19,)such cups being arranged to present their open ends toward the front ofthe machine. The hopper S is arranged to be detachably mounted upon andin communication with an enlarged chamber S, whereby IIO the heads mayslide by gravity from the hopper into such chamber. Mounted in saidchamber is a disk T, which, if desired, may have a roughened, grooved,or corrugated surface, which acts against the metal cups or heads toeffect when said disk is rotated an agitation of the heads contained insaid chamber, whereby said heads are properly fed from said chamber intoa chute Z, communicating at its upper end with said chamber. Theagitating-disk T may be rotated or actuated through any suitablearrangement of mechanismas, for instance, a pulleyk or anysuitablerevolving part of the machine. It is to be observed that the spacebetween the front and the back walls of the hopper S and of the chamberS is just suiiicient to accommodate the lengths of the cups or heads,and the delivery-chute Z is of just suflicient size to receive a singlecolumn of the heads. In order to permit the heads to drop by gravityfrom hopper S into the agitating-chamber S and from this into thedelivery-chute Z, I prefer ably arrange said part-s in substantially avertical position, as shown. Through the delivery-chute Z the headsslide in a single column to the lower end thereof, where they arenormally arrested by a cut-off device m, (see Fig. 0,) which isyieldingly held in position to form a cut-off by means of a spring m,placed in a recess of the frame A and arranged to bearat one end againstthe frame and at the other end against the cut-off m, as clearly shown.The cut-off device m is mounted in the support for the lower end of thechute and may be cut away on its upper surface to form an eflicientsupport for the column of cups or heads. A weighted finger 'n is pivotedin brackets formed on the feeding-chute Z near its lower end andprojects below the end of the chute and normally bears against thecutoff m.

The clamping-fingers L, above referred to, which, as described, aremounted upon shaft K, comprise pivoted fingers or jaws having theirouter meeting faces or edges suitably grooved to conform to the contourof a head, and said correspondingly-grooved edges are normally andyieldingly compressed toward each other by means of springs 07/, actingupon their outer edges, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. In Figs. 5 and 5 Ihave shown two sets of fingers L, so that during the operation of thecupsetting die, presently to be referred to, as one set of clampingfingers or jaws releases the cup the other set will grasp it, thusfirmly and accurately holding or guiding the cup or head until it hasreached its seat on the end of the shell-case. By the arrangement of theshaft K, gears I J, shaft II, arm G, lever F, and eccentric E, as abovedescribed, said shaft K, carrying the clamping-fingers L, rocks saidfingers into position to receive the head from the lower end of thechute Z. As

said jaws approach the position to receive the a pin or wedge 0', havinga pointed end, as 'f clearly shown in Figs.5, 5, and 6, adapted to enterbeveled kerfs formed in the meeting edges of eaclf pair of theclamping-fingers,

thereby enabling the pairs of fingers to receive and clasp a cuptherein. Simultaneously with the approach. of the fingers to theposition to receive the cups from the lower end of tubeZ said fingersengage and push back out of the way the cut-off m, said cutoff beingslid back out of the way and against the action of the spring m, abovereferred to, which normally tends to return said slide or cut-off intoits cut-off position. From this it will be seen that a cup is permittedto 'drop into the opening in the meeting faces of the jaws L. A weightedfinger it serves to confine and guide the cup while the clamping fingersor jaws are pushing back the cut-off, and hence said weighted fingerprevents the cup from dropping from out of line of the jaws.

A spring maybe used to force this pivoted finger inwardly. After a cupor head has been deposited in the transferring-fingers or clamping-jawsL a further actuation of shaft Beffects a rotation of shaft K, throughthe ar ran gement of shafts, cranks, levers, and gearf ing abovedescribed, in a direction to carry or to rock said clamping-fingers awayfrom i the lower end of the chute Z, and this carries the head intoposition to be received on the end of the shell-case, which haspreviously been reduced and crimped by the action of the crimping-die.While held in this position, I

a suitable reciprocating plunger or rammer (not shown) carrying a die Apresently to be more fully described, is advanced and firmly forces thehead down upon the" shell and pinches or clenches thesame upon the shellin the usual manner.

The shells are successively fed to the gag-er,

step rotation is imparted to said dial" through the engagement with theratchet-teeth b IIO This dial N is v thereon of the pawl 6, carried byslide M. a

The dial N is arranged to operate over the flange W, (shown most.clearly in Figs. 20 and 21,) which flange has portions of its surfacecut away, so as to form inclines or cams, as,

shown at P, and the pins U are arranged to rest upon the edge of flangeW, whereby when the dial is revolved said pins are successivelypermitted to be withdrawn into their sockets 1) until the upper endsthereof are flush with the top surface of'the dial N o'rare projectedvertically in their sockets in order that their upper ends mayprojectabove the top surface of the'dial N by reason of the cam-flange TV.

I prefer to form the pins U in two parts, as clearly shown in Figs. 12and 13, consisting of an outer sleeve 1", over which the headlessshellcases are slipped, and an inner rod 3', and I arrange a spring at tobear at one end against a head formed on said rod 3 and at the other endagainst said outer sleeve 4', whereby a yielding motion of the sleeverela tively t0 the rod may be secured, it being understood that theheaded rod is the part that rests upon the edge of the cam-flange NV.The arrangement is such that, as will be seen from the foregoingdescription,when the shellcases are presented to the wad gage andcrimping devices the shell-supports are projected longitudinally throughtheir sockets in the dial N to elevate the shell-cases above the topsurface of the dial by means of the cam-flange W, and when the shellsare presented to the head-setting mechanism a cutaway portion of thecam-flange is encountered in the path of travel of the shell-supportingpins, thereby permitting said pins to be withdrawn into their sockets,whereby the shell-cases are supported during the operation of thehead-setting die A thereby avoidin g danger of injuring and spoiling theshellcase during the head-setting operation. Arranged within each socketin the dial N, at the upper end of such socket, is a sleeve 7;, held inplace by a screw r, as clearly shown in Fig. 22. Each sleeve or die 12has a rabbet a formed near its upper end, which, in conjunction With thehead-settin g plunger, forms a shoulder upon the metal cup or head.After the head-setting mechanism has accomplished its work the nextactuation of the carrier-dial N presents the now headed shell to theextracting mechanism, by which the headed shell is removed automaticallyfrom the carrier at the same time the pin supporting the headed shell iscaused to ride up the inclined surface of the cam-flange W, so as toproject the headed end of the shell above the top surface of the dialplate, enabling the shell-extractor to seize and remove the shell. Theextractor which I employ in the present instance is shown clearly inFigs. 1, 3, 7, and 8 and is composed of a tube formed with a head(designated by reference-sign V,) which head is provided with inclinedguides or Ways for the hook-arms s, which latter have limiting-nuts b ontheir upper ends. Suitable means for reciprocating vertically theextractor may be provided. In the present instance I provide a lever 25,pivotally mounted at one end of the frame A and at its other endconnected to the tube, and said lever is connected intermediate its endsto a crosshead 03, mounted to reciprocate in ways in the frame andactuated from the main shaft B by a connecting-rod connected to a crankon said shaft.

The operation is as follows: When a headedshell case is presented by theactuation of carrier-dial N into position for the extractor to operatethereon, said extractor is reciprocated downwardly, the arms 8 ridingover the rim of the head of the shell-case until the hooks on the lowerends of said arms 3 are in position to engage the rim of the head. Anupward reciprocation of the extractor causes said hook ends of the armsto lift the shell-case clear of the pins, the shell-case remainin gsuspended by the engagement of the hook ends of the arms 8 upon theunder side of the head-rims. Upon the next cycle of operation of theextractor the previously-extracted shell is forced upwardly into thetube of the extractor, when the extractor is lowered to remove the nextsucceeding shell, and this action is repeated by successive cycles ofoperation until finally the shells are forced out of the top of theextractor-tube.

In the foregoing specification, while Ihave described the best form ofapparatus which I have up to this time contemplated carrying out myinvention, it is manifest that many variations may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of the parts by persons skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. I thereforedo not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the preciseconstruction shown and described.

It is also manifest that the machine above described may be put to otheruses than those mentioned, all of which it will be impossible, ofcourse, to recite within the limits of this specification; but it may beobserved that the hopper, the feeding-disk, the guide-tube, the weightedfinger, the clamping or transferring fingers, the sliding cut-off, andthe mechanism for operating these several parts may also be utilized inexactly the form shown in the accompanying drawings to cap or prime acartridge, the caps being placed in the hopper and fed through themachine just as the metal cups or heads are fed through, as described inthe specification. Of course when such parts are used for priming orcapping the shell they must be made of a size adapting thein for suchpurpose, and other parts of the machine, such as a revolving dial andpins for carrying the shell, must be modified to suit this modification.

I am aware that it is not particularly new to use a feeding-disk tocarry metal cups or caps forward in an approximately horizontal plane toclamping and transferring fingers, which in turn take such cups or capsand by a half-revolution place them upon the shells; but in suchconstruction the services of two persons are required for each machine,one to place the shells on the shell-carrying dial and the other toconstantly sit at the rear of the machine and place the cups or caps onthe feeding-disk, which latter conveys them to the clamping andtransferring fingers; but by my construction one person stationed at therear of a number of machines can attend to the introduction of the headsor caps for three or more of the machines, because the hoppers andfeeding-disks are arranged in an approximately vertical position; andtherefore the heads or caps descend by gravity to the feeding-disk andare carried by the continuous rotation of the latter to the feeding orguiding chute, through which they again descend by gravity to theclamping or transferring fingers or jaws.

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and a form ofapparatus embodying the same and having described the construction,function, and mode of operation of such apparatus, what'I claim as newand useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States, is-

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of the extractorwith the lever having one of its ends connected with such extractor andits other end pivoted to the frame and its fulcrum secured to a slidinghead connected to the main shaft, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

2. In a machine of the class described, a combined reducing and crimpingmechanism consisting of a sleeve and rod fastened through the sleeve andlimited in its downward movement, a spring normally pressing the roddownward, and a die internally formed so as to reduce and crimp the endof the shell, such die resting against the springpressed rod, andmechanism connected with the main shaft for actuating the reducing andcrimping mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a machine of the class described and in combination with awad-gage, a shell-case crimper, a head-setting plunger and an eX-tractor, a revoluble shell-casecarrying dial, shell-case supportsarranged therein com prising two portions elastically supported withreference to each other, and means arranged in the path of revolution ofsaid dial for projecting said supports above the surface of said dialduring the action of said wad-gage, crimper and extractor and forwithdrawing said support below the surface of said dial during theaction of said headset-ting plunger, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a machine for heading cartridge-shells, the combination with avertically-disposed hopper adapted to receive the caps or heads therein,a revoluble disk havingrotating corrugations in said hopper and formingone wall of the cap or head receiving chamber a vertically-arrangedchute or raceway, all of size adapted to receive the heads or caps insingle file, and connected at its upper end with the cap or head chamberof the hopper, a spring-pressed plunger arranged to project transverselyacross the lower end of said raceway and forming a cut-off for thecolumn of caps or heads contained therein, a shell-case carrier, meansfor depressing said plunger and for receiving and transferring a head orcap from said raceway to said carrier, and means for applying thetransferred head to the end of the shell-case, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with avertically-disposed hopper, a revoluble disk mounted therein and formingone wall of a chamber adapted to receive the caps or heads, avertically-arranged chute or racewaycommunicating at its upper end withsaid chamber, means yieldingly mounted for supporting a column of capsor heads in said chute or raceway, a shaft arranged adjacentto the lowerend of said raceway, clamping-fingers mounted thereon to rock therewith,and adapted to receive and transfer the heads or caps from the racewayto the shell-cases, a main operating-shaft and eccentric mounted thereon,a pivotally-mounted lever arranged to be engaged and rocked by saideccentric and means actuated by the rocking motion of said lever forimparting a quarter-revolution and return to saidclamping-finger-supportin g shaft, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a machine'of the class described, a revoluble dial, a series ofshell-case supports arranged therein, said supports comprising anexterior sleeve and an interior pin and a spring interposed between'saidsleeve and pin, a stationarily-held cam arranged in the path of travelof the shell-case supportsrand adapted to elevate and depress saidsupports as said dial revolves, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a machine of the class described, a framework, ashell-case-feeding mechanism, a main driving-shaft mounted in saidframework, a plunger-head arranged to be actuated by said shaft, ashell-case head-setting mechanism mounted on said plunger-head, a fixedguide mounted on said framework, a rod mounted to slide in said guide, aspring arranged to maintain said rod yieldingly in elevated position, arocking shaft ,mounted in said framework and having an arm arranged toengage said rod,an eccentric mounted on said main shaft and connected toa crank-arm on said rocking shaft, whereby when said main shaft isactuated said rod is depressed against a yielding resistance, and ashell-case crimping-die carried by said rod, as and for the purpose setforth.

8. In a machine of the class described, a head-setting mechanism, ahead-feeding device and means for transferring the heads from saidfeeding device to said setting mechanism and for holding and guiding thesame during the action of said setting mechanism comprising two pairs ofclamping-j aws superposed the one pair upon the other, a rocking supportfor said clamping-jaws, means for simultaneously opening both pairs ofjaws to receive a head, and means for rocking said support comprising apivotally-mounted lever, means for rocking the same about its pivot andconnections between said lever and support, as and for the purpose setforth. g

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a chute orraceway adapted to receive a column of heads or caps, a plunger mountedto reciprocate transversely therethrough, a spring arranged toyieldingly maintain said plunger in position to form a support for thecolumn of heads; clampingfingers and means for actuating the same, asand for the purpose set forth.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with aplunger-head and headsetting devices carried thereby, of a plu ngerrod,a crimping-die carried thereby and arranged to crimp the end of theshells preparatory to receiving the heads thereon, means for projectingsaid rod longitudinally, whereby said crim ping-die is advanced to itswork, and means for yieldingly resisting the longitudinal projection ofsaid rod and for returning the same to normal position, as and for thepurpose set forth.

11. In a machine of the class described, a chute, a support for the endof said chute, a

spring-pressed cut-off device carried by said support, said cut-offdevice cut away upon its upper surface and adapted to be projectedacross the end of said chute, a pivotallymounted head-transferringdevice, means for rocking the same, said head-transferring deviceadapted to be rocked to engage and force said cut-off device back out ofthe line of travel of the heads in said chute, thereby permitting thehead to drop into the jaws of the transferring device, as and for thepurpose set forth.

12. Inahead-assembling machine, achute, a pivoted finger at the endthereof, a movable support for the column of heads and apivotally-mounted head-transferring device and means for rocking thesame, all eo1nbined and arranged, as and for the purpose set forth. 1

XVILLIAM l3. PLACE. \Vitn esses:

F. O. TUTTLE, L. R. Mvnns.

